Up Periscope: The Art of Science Storytelling with Author Jennifer Swanson

It's a book birthday! Join us in celebrating Jen Swanson's latest book: Up Periscope! How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding (and check out the contest below to enter to win an autographed copy).Get ready to blast off into a world where science meets storytelling with our special guest Jen Swanson, the NASA STEMfluencer who is making waves with more than 40 nonfiction books for kids (and their curious adults), as well as her inspiring podcast Solve It for Kids. In this episode, we journey through Jen's path to becoming a NASA STEMfluencer, her firsthand experiences at the Kennedy Space Center during the Artemis One launch, and her exciting astronaut encounters. We discuss her passion for bringing the wonders of STEM to children  as a way of fostering future innovators. Jen is incredible at taking big concepts that are difficult and boiling them down to small things that people can understand. We delve into the craft of nonfiction writing and the importance of connecting with experts to bring authenticity to the page. Hear how Jen's book Astronaut-Aquanaut, benefited from insights provided by real-life space and sea adventurers, and how a bold request led to a private tour of the renowned CERN facility. We also examine the educational power of STEM books, from creatively teaching car safety in Save the Crash Test Dummies to highlighting the importance of climate awareness in Footprints Across the Planet. Join us as we celebrate the art of making science relatable and the educators who seamlessly weave these narratives into their classrooms, igniting curiosity and a passion for knowledge in their students.PLUS: Just in time for the holidays, enter to win an autographed copy of Jen's latest book, Up Periscope! How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding Discover the hidden figure who created the first comprehensive computer program to design ships for the US Navy. Award-winning author Jennifer Swanson and acclaimed illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison celebrate a self-made engineer who worked around anyone and anything that stood in her way in this illuminating picture book biography about never giving up on your dreams. To enter, send me a message by Dec. 10, 2024, explaining why you should win this wonderful picture book and who you want it autographed for!You can watch the entire episode on YouTube. Support the showShare this episodeIf this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friendStay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.